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Those who have left- will you go back?
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I grew up in small town in Donegal, worked there for several years and moved to the city to work for number of years. Not Dublin. Came back and got the rose coloured glasses knocked right off. We're planning to leave asap. If Its sooooo boring ! If I didnt have a car I'd have cracked already ! !
Have to disagree with you was brought up in Glasgow Decided to move to Donegal everyone said I was crazy would be bored out of my skull within the year 16 years later I am still waiting for the boredom to set in
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I'm a blow-in from Dublin, even after xy years here
, and I married a Donegal man. At first, I thought I'd died and gone to hell and would have crawled on my hands and knees back 'home'. I HATED how everyone knew everything about everyone else and how you couldn't even walk up the street without some speculation going on about where you were going, what you'd be doing there (and with whom!) and when you'd be back.
Over the xy years since, I've changed utterly and wouldn't go back to Dublin if you paid me a pension. I agree with other posters who've said that life is much the same anywhere. I also think that things have changed here in Donegal - some for the good and some for the bad.
Yes, people don't know as much about their neighbours and don't say hello at every opportunity. Is that such a bad thing? If you can socialise with whomever you want, enjoy less frenetic journeys to work and play and have the advantages bestowed by country life/scenery, then happy days! Cities are not that far away for anything else that might be missing
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At the risk of incurring the wrath of Muffler for going OT :eek: I believe there are ways round most things, with a bit of effort. I quite agree about the transport issue and the lack of footpaths, however - no, I don't live in Letterkenny now, though I did for a few years.
For the most part, it does mean using a car or taxi to get around, or getting together to car share with others - I use the pools and libraries that are nearest to me, often combining shopping visits to best effect. If there is nothing in your area for young people/teenagers, why not start something? Most resource centres and community groups are crying out for help and support from volunteers.
What about lobbying for better services, walks or play parks? I think you might find that there's a lot more going on in your community than you realise - and once again, if there's not, start it yourself!
I hope I'm not coming across as patronising - I certainly don't mean to - but as an activist in my own community and farther afield, I'm passionate about getting together with others to effect change. If we wait until someone else does it, we are likely to remain members of the indoor country club for the foreseeable future 0 -
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Unless someone continually goes to large international sporting events, frequents big concerts and hangs out at the Four Seasons, Lillies and Tripod all the time, what exactly do people do in cities like Dublin? Work? Eat? Sleep? Commute? Watch T.V.?
I have friends who live 25 minutes from Oxford Street in London. They go there about 3-4 times a year, max. It takes them 20 minutes to reach the cinema. I live 6 miles from Sligo and can be in my seat in 15. I spent a few months with them a few years ago and found it the most tedious time of my life. Their entire street retreated into their pokey houses after work and walking to the shop (for something to do) every secong window had a T.V. showing East Enders in it. Better than going to the ratty, seedy pubs to drink warm, flat ale, I suppose. Hardley the lifestyle of Kings.
I see whatever bands I want in Dublin, attend whatever rugby/football matches I can get tickets for. Friends who live there don't get to much more than I do.
Some people like the Big Schmoke for whatever reasons and dislike ruratania for their own reasons. You get the odd nosey fecker anywhere. Are you sure people are really that interested in your day to day lives?
To each their own, but why make Donegal sound like it's full of innocent, curtain twitching buffers when it's not? They're in the same proportion as anywhere else. I could write a list as long as my arm about why I wouldn't live in Dublin or London. I choose not to bother.
+1
I'm from Dublin tho, but I like your opinion on your hometown.
One thing though, is it true it always rains in the west?0 -
Who cares. This is the NORTH westaifricfan16 wrote: »One thing though, is it true it always rains in the west?
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monkey9comma wrote: »From England, but living in Dublin, am thinking of moving to rather than moving back to Donegal, but imagine the issues are the same.
On the plus side:
- i think it's a better place to bring up children
- cheaper houses
- a far greater sense of community
- the landscape
- the surf (assuming I'd actually brave it on anything like a regular basis)
And the downside (from the outside in):
- lack of decent restaurants
- reliance on cars
- employment prospects (I work in IT which seems to give me about 2 options in Letterkenny, else teleworking)
- broadband availability
- entrenched politicians
- having to find new friends!
- lack of cultural options? (it's nice knowing you can go to the opera, etc, even if you never do!)
Any thoughts welcome.
-Yes all the pluses are indeed there. I am talking about a Leitrim side but I am sure it transfers. I do think that the downsides are mainly the financial end, which is a biggie for sure. If you get around these ie re train or try to redapt some of your skills that would help. (think flexibility is the key). But, its particularly hard when jobs are so few on the ground at the moment.
-Re entrenched politicians they are there, but saying that I do think that theres more opportunity to get involved in politics on a local level. They are just crying out for people to get involved on Development Associations in local areas and this can springboard you off into it. If you have children there tends to be a fair amount of activity around the schools, eg in the gael schools whether it be fundraising activities and events. Also opportunities to volunteer (again) on the board of managements etc. This could be a good way of meeting people.
-Lets face it there are alot of "blow ins" (I am counting myself here as a returnee) and you can find many like minded people. People have emigrated and returned, people who stayed have as a good a chance as the next to be open minded to change, (as they certainly seen enough of it) its all individual. The days of the sterotyped homogenous village are gone imo. I know its another stereotype but the pub is a good social meeting point, at least to find out about other local things going on. That is if you find the right one. I know for sure in the village where I am living in Leitrim am just tripping over artists, film producers and singer songwriter and trad musicians, so there a fairly cultured bunch. Like minded people tend to make an active choice to move to the country for quality of life reasons etc. There tends to be loads of creativity generated locally. Its only a matter of finding out about events. eg we have a local film club and reading club, even down to informal parties which there appears to be many of! Yes you can go to big gigs in Dublin and the matches, then of course you find they come to you. (In the area where I live we have the likes of Roddy Doyle, Edna O brien etc speaking at a local allbeit yearly film festival).
-Yes it takes time to know the decent restuarants, and its hard to get good food on a budget.(Time now to stock up plenty of spices before you return and start cooking!) However there are some good resturanats. I didnt think I could live without a decent curry but have found a couple passable Indian restarants and some sublime Thai restuarants in Sligo anyway. (Hope this is the same in Donegal).
Am sure there are places like mine all round Donegal and if there isnt, heck I have the answer for you. Just move to Leitrim! 0 -
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donegalfella wrote: »This post has been deleted.
I left to go to law school, didn't like it much and came back. So what didn't I like? Not the idea of hard work, being away from friends, family and homecomforts, nope, it was the attitutes, discrimination and downright snobbery that I encountered in mainland UK that brought me back I'm 29, I look, dress and act like a 16yr old, I don't forsee that I'll suddenly be dressing as a middle aged woman when I hit my next birthday. You can be whatever you want here with out such riduculous constraints as social class, appropriatness for your age, sex or anything else and no-one bats an eyelid! This might not be confined to Donegal but believe me you certainly won't find it everywhere! 
Personally I don't really see a problem with grown men behaving like boys, there's nothing wrong with being 30 going on 15 whatsoever 0 -
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